Honeysuckle vines are an important part of the nursery
business.Because of their versatility
they can be used in sun or shade conditions and are adaptable to many soil
types.The Bailey website says this
about the vine, “a woody vine valued for its carmine flower buds that open
to a cream to yellow inside, gradually changing to pink from June till
frost.”The vine has many attributes
and should be propagated for all to enjoy.

This picture shows the first couple steps.Bending
the stem, pinning it and the insert shows how the stem was cut to promote
root initiation.

Layering is
a common way to propagate honeysuckle vines.The
procedure is simple, hence the name simple layering. It is done in the
early spring, when the shoots are flexible and dormant.If
you follow these simple steps, you should be able to propagate the vine.

?Take
a one-year-old stem and bend it down to the ground.

?Pin
down the shoot about 6-9 inches from the tip, so that it forms a “U.”

?Cover
the base, but leave the tip above ground.

?Girdling,
twisting or cutting the part that is below ground can help initiate roots,
but is not necessary.

?Once
the shoot starts to grow, a stake should be placed next to it and the plant
attached.

If started in the spring, the shoot should root by
the end of the growing season.At
that time, you can remove it or leave it until the next spring and remove
it before the new growth starts.

This picture is an example of how to cover the new cutting.

This graphic shows the double eye cutting.

Another easy way to propagate honeysuckle is by leaf
bud cuttings.A common type of leaf
bud cuttings for honeysuckle vines, are the double eye cutting.To
accomplish this, you simply cut above a pair of leaves and then make the
lower cut about halfway between the leaf joints.(An
example is on the left).You can then
dip the end of the stem into a growth regulator to help promote roots.Then
place the cutting in a well-drained soil to root.Keep
the cuttings in a warm room where they will get plenty of heat and water.To
help keep the heat in around the cuttings, you can place a plastic garbage
bag around the pot or tray you planted in. (Refer to the picture on the
right).Once the cuttings have rooted,
take them out of the pot or trays and gradually let them get used to the
outside conditions.Be sure to not
let them get exposed to frost.Once
the plants are hardened off, you can plant them in the ground.

There are several easy and economical ways to reproduce
a plant that you love. Now you
can share this vine with friends,